AC Electrical Characterization of Epoxy/Whiskers Composites Coated with Titanium Nitride

Abstract

This article deals with the AC electrical characterization of epoxy reinforced with neat silicon carbide (SiC) whiskers and SiC whiskers coated with titanium nitride. The AC electrical characterization was studied as a function of frequency in the range from 100 kHz to 1.2 MHz, temperature in the range from 20°C to 110°C. It was found that AC electrical conductivity increases with reinforcements, temperature, and frequency. Some AC electrical characterization of SiC whiskers composites as dielectric constants, activation energy, and relaxation time were determined. The observed enhancement in AC conductivity is attributed to increase in the number of conduction paths created by the whiskers contacts in the epoxy matrix gives higher electrical conductivity. It was found that the coated whiskers enhanced AC conductivity better than the uncoated. The universal power-law model of AC conductivity is observed for composites. The calculated Power exponent (about unity) is physically acceptable within this applied model.